First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has accused opposition parties of “running scared” of a debate on Scotland’s future.
Ms Sturgeon said they are “running scared” of the facts on independence and the UK’s “abysmal” performance compared to other nations.
On Tuesday, the Scottish Government published a paper comparing the UK with other nations which Ms Sturgeon claimed are “wealthier, fairer and happier” than the UK.
She said: “The Tories and Labour have completely failed to engage with that point because they know it is true and because they can see how threadbare the case for continued Westminster rule over Scotland has become.
“They simply have no answer, so instead of engaging in that debate they prefer to engage in the politics of deflection, talking about issues of process when on the issues of substance the sands are shifting beneath their feet.
“No matter how hard the Westminster parties try and run away from the debate, they cannot dodge reality.
“The people of Scotland have secured a cast-iron democratic mandate to decide their own future – and neither Boris Johnson nor any other UK Prime Minister has the right to block that mandate.”
The Scottish Government are in a constitutional stalemate over a second independence referendum with the UK Government maintaining their opposition to the idea.
Ms Sturgeon has hinted that she may seek a vote without a section 30 order – where powers are formally transferred to the Scottish Government to hold a referendum.
“With the publication of this week’s paper, the campaign for an independence referendum has now begun in earnest, and I am determined to deliver the legal, constitutional referendum the people of Scotland have voted for.”
However a UK Government spokesperson insisted: “Now is not the time to be talking about another referendum.
“People across Scotland rightly want and expect to see both of their governments working together with a relentless focus on the issues that matter to them, their families and communities.
“That means tackling the cost of living, protecting our long-term energy security, leading the international response against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing our economy so that everyone has access to the opportunities, skills and jobs for the future.”
Scottish Labour spokesperson on the constitution Sarah Boyack said only her party could “boot Boris Johnson” out of government, and said that talk of a second referendum was a distraction from the SNP’s record in government.
She said: “The only scary thing in Scottish politics at the moment is the depths Nicola Sturgeon will sink to in order to distract from her own Government’s failures.
“Once again the SNP are ignoring reality, cherry-picking stats to suit their agenda and doing anything to deflect from their 15 years of failure. People want their politicians to get on with the day job.
“Hundreds of thousands of Scots are facing the choice between heating and eating and the best that this SNP government can do is pluck dates out of a hat for another divisive referendum.
“The SNP’s obsession is a disappointing return to the politics of the past – the politics of strife and division.”
Donald Cameron from the Scottish Conservatives said another referendum campaign would only cause division and damage in a time when everyone should be “united”.
He added: “Closing the schools attainment gap, fixing NHS waiting times and dealing with the drug deaths crisis should be among the SNP’s priorities. But they’ve been discarded again.
“It’s no wonder ordinary people are furious at this latest independence-related stunt.
“The Scottish Conservatives are the strongest voice for everyone who wants the focus on Scotland’s recovery.”
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